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AGRICULTURAL NUTRIENT PROFILE: PHOSPHORUS-PART 1

The importance of phosphorus to crops

Phosphorus (P) takes its rightful place alongside Nitrogen and Potassium among the three primary macronutrients essential to successful plant growth.

Without Phosphorus, photosynthesis could not occur. Phosphorus plays a key role in complex energy transformations that are necessary to all life, as a main ingredient in ATP (adenosine triphosphate). It is also a central component of DNA and RNA – and is necessary for building proteins and other compounds.

That is just the beginning. Phosphorus is required by the plant from the seedling stage through to maturity – and has a measurable impact on crop quality and yield.

Ten ways phosphorus aids in plant growth and plant health:

Enables photosynthesis (energy transformation)

Builds nucleic acids, proteins and enzyme

Facilitates root growth

Strengthens stems and stalks

Improves flower formation and seed production

Promotes crop uniformity

Contributes to earlier maturity

Increases disease resistance

Improves overall crop quality

Facilitates nitrogen fixation abilities of legumes

Identifying phosphorus deficiency

As you can see, the importance of phosphorus to crops cannot be understated. It explains why a Phosphorus deficiency can have a devastating impact on crop quality and yield.

Plants suffering from phosphorus deficiency show several telltale signs: such as stunted growth and fibre colours ranging from dark green to reddish purple (caused by the accumulation of sugars). Phosphorus deficiencies later in the growing season will negatively affect seed and fruit development, as well as crop maturity.

A&L Canada Laboratories has been compiling results from soil tests across western Canada. As the chart below demonstrates, the majority of tests indicate low or very low Phosphorus levels across the prairie provinces, based on a fairly substantial sampling size.

It is important to be proactive in ensuring your plants have an adequate supply of P – because if you wait until you see signs of deficiency, the damage has already been done.

Fortunately, growers have several tools to help determine phosphorus levels in the soil. Various soil tests can be used to determine phosphorus availability in the soil.